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Title: A spectroscopic sample of massive, quiescent z ∼ 2 galaxies: implications for the evolution of the mass-size relation

Abstract

We present deep, near-infrared Hubble Space Telescope/Wide Field Camera 3 grism spectroscopy and imaging for a sample of 14 galaxies at z ≈ 2 selected from a mass-complete photometric catalog in the COSMOS field. By combining the grism observations with photometry in 30 bands, we derive accurate constraints on their redshifts, stellar masses, ages, dust extinction, and formation redshifts. We show that the slope and scatter of the z ∼ 2 mass-size relation of quiescent galaxies is consistent with the local relation, and confirm previous findings that the sizes for a given mass are smaller by a factor of two to three. Finally, we show that the observed evolution of the mass-size relation of quiescent galaxies between z = 2 and 0 can be explained by the quenching of increasingly larger star forming galaxies at a rate dictated by the increase in the number density of quiescent galaxies with decreasing redshift. However, we find that the scatter in the mass-size relation should increase in the quenching-driven scenario in contrast to what is seen in the data. This suggests that merging is not needed to explain the evolution of the median mass-size relation of massive galaxies, but may still be requiredmore » to tighten its scatter, and explain the size growth of individual z = 2 galaxies quiescent galaxies.« less

Authors:
; ; ;  [1];  [2]
  1. Dark Cosmology Centre, Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Juliane Maries Vej 30, DK-2100 Copenhagen O (Denmark)
  2. Space Telescope Science Institute, 3700 San Martin Drive, Baltimore, MD 21210 (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
22370088
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Astrophysical Journal
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 797; Journal Issue: 1; Other Information: Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 0004-637X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
79 ASTROPHYSICS, COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY; CATALOGS; COSMOLOGY; DENSITY; DUSTS; EVOLUTION; GALAXIES; MASS; NEAR INFRARED RADIATION; PHOTOMETRY; RED SHIFT; SPACE; SPECTROSCOPY; STARS; TELESCOPES; UNIVERSE

Citation Formats

Krogager, J. -K., Zirm, A. W., Toft, S., Man, A., and Brammer, G. A spectroscopic sample of massive, quiescent z ∼ 2 galaxies: implications for the evolution of the mass-size relation. United States: N. p., 2014. Web. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/797/1/17.
Krogager, J. -K., Zirm, A. W., Toft, S., Man, A., & Brammer, G. A spectroscopic sample of massive, quiescent z ∼ 2 galaxies: implications for the evolution of the mass-size relation. United States. https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/797/1/17
Krogager, J. -K., Zirm, A. W., Toft, S., Man, A., and Brammer, G. 2014. "A spectroscopic sample of massive, quiescent z ∼ 2 galaxies: implications for the evolution of the mass-size relation". United States. https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/797/1/17.
@article{osti_22370088,
title = {A spectroscopic sample of massive, quiescent z ∼ 2 galaxies: implications for the evolution of the mass-size relation},
author = {Krogager, J. -K. and Zirm, A. W. and Toft, S. and Man, A. and Brammer, G.},
abstractNote = {We present deep, near-infrared Hubble Space Telescope/Wide Field Camera 3 grism spectroscopy and imaging for a sample of 14 galaxies at z ≈ 2 selected from a mass-complete photometric catalog in the COSMOS field. By combining the grism observations with photometry in 30 bands, we derive accurate constraints on their redshifts, stellar masses, ages, dust extinction, and formation redshifts. We show that the slope and scatter of the z ∼ 2 mass-size relation of quiescent galaxies is consistent with the local relation, and confirm previous findings that the sizes for a given mass are smaller by a factor of two to three. Finally, we show that the observed evolution of the mass-size relation of quiescent galaxies between z = 2 and 0 can be explained by the quenching of increasingly larger star forming galaxies at a rate dictated by the increase in the number density of quiescent galaxies with decreasing redshift. However, we find that the scatter in the mass-size relation should increase in the quenching-driven scenario in contrast to what is seen in the data. This suggests that merging is not needed to explain the evolution of the median mass-size relation of massive galaxies, but may still be required to tighten its scatter, and explain the size growth of individual z = 2 galaxies quiescent galaxies.},
doi = {10.1088/0004-637X/797/1/17},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/22370088}, journal = {Astrophysical Journal},
issn = {0004-637X},
number = 1,
volume = 797,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Dec 10 00:00:00 EST 2014},
month = {Wed Dec 10 00:00:00 EST 2014}
}